Written question asked by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party) on Tuesday, 14 November 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 28 November 2023. It was answered by Lord Benyon (Conservative) on Thursday, 30 November 2023 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Antimicrobials: Drug Resistance

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the combined impacts of microplastics and antimicrobial pollutants in driving antimicrobial resistance emergence in the environment, and what steps they are taking to mitigate these impacts.

Answer: Defra, the Environment Agency and the UK Health Security Agency have a joint research programme on antimicrobial resistance in the environment. This includes examination of potential drivers of selection for antimicrobial resistance in environmental organisms. So far, this work has concentrated on the effect of antimicrobials and biocides so has not examined the additional role of microplastics, as this was not identified as likely to have a high impact and therefore be a high priority for the research. However, we continue to consider issues for further investigation as part of our ongoing research where emerging evidence suggests it is needed.

Secondary information